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Gathering the Manna from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo.

(Exodus 16:4–5 NKJV)  Then the LORD said to Moses, “Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you. And the people shall go out and gather a certain quota every day, that I may test them, whether they will walk in My law or not. And it shall be on the sixth day that they shall prepare what they bring in, and it shall be twice as much as they gather daily.”

The Lord rained manna across the camp of the Israelites daily. It was literally daily bread from heaven. It appeared in the early morning like frost on the ground. The manna was white and tasted like wafers made with honey. The Israelites gathered it, baked it into cakes, or cooked it in various ways. Each morning, more manna would appear. It fed them, but it also tested their trust in God.

There were strict rules regarding manna. It came each morning with the dew, and the Israelites went out to get enough for their family. Each household had to gather the manna for themselves. A wealthy family could not hire others to gather it for them. The ones who gathered little had enough, and the ones with a lot never had too much. It was always enough.

The Lord told them not to keep manna overnight, but some did, and it was terrible. It grew worms and stank. Yet on the day before the Sabbath, they were given a two day supply of it. They kept it overnight, and it did not spoil. This allowed them to take a day off and rest. In fact, it forced them to take a day off, for the manna did not appear on the Sabbath day.

The manna sustained them, but it also tested their character. The Israelites broke every single rule God gave them concerning it. He told them to not keep it overnight, but some tried to. He told them to rest on the Sabbath, yet some went out to gather more manna anyway but found none. They knew what God wanted but apparently just didn't think it mattered.

The Lord tested them to see what they would do with what He provided. There was no room for greed or hoarding. Each family was to depend on God to give them what they needed each day. It is a beautiful flow of supernatural provision—a complete balance between work, reward, and rest. Six days a week, they rose early in the morning and gathered the manna. On the seventh day, they rested and enjoyed the day off.

Jesus taught His disciples to include it in their prayer:

(Matthew 6:11 NKJV) Give us this day our daily bread.

The Lord provides each day, yet we still have to do our part. Just as the birds of the air, or the squirrels gathering nuts. The opportunity that He provides may seem humbling to you. Some of the Israelites grumbled and missed the "pots of meat" in Egypt. But through our life, we travel through mountains as well as valleys.

Remember that it is the Lord who provides the manna, and He can give double when it is needed. He is also able to make what you gather stink and melt away overnight.

(Proverbs 3:9–10 NKJV) Honor the LORD with your possessions, And with the firstfruits of all your increase; So your barns will be filled with plenty, And your vats will overflow with new wine.

We face difficult times. Once because of a string of bad choices made by the leadership of Israel, Ahab, and Jezebel, the entire land suffered drought and then famine. Those two seemed to honor any god around except for the Almighty God. As a result of that, it did not rain for years. The people could not plant crops in the dry dust, so a shortage of food followed.

During this drought and famine, the Lord sent Elijah to stay with a poor widow in Zarephath. But she had only a handful of flour in a bin and a little oil in a jar. She planned to make a small cake out of it so that she and her son could have a last meal together. After that, they would starve to death. While she was out gathering sticks to build a fire to cook their last meal, she met the prophet, Elijah.

What happened next is totally against what we think our God would do. Instead of God coming through at the last minute and miraculously providing food for the poor widow, He asked her to share her last bit of food with a stranger. Would God really ask a poor, starving widow with no income to share the little she had with someone else? Apparently so, because it is all about trusting Him to provide for us daily. None are exempt from "Give, and it will be given to you," not even the poor widow with two mites, nor the widow in this story.

Elijah told her to first make him a small cake out of what she had, and then some for her and her son because the bin of flour and the jug of oil would not run out until it rained on the earth. When she did as Elijah asked, the little bit that she had fed them all for the next three years. The supply of food did not run out.

(1 Kings 17:15–16 NKJV) So she went away and did according to the word of Elijah; and she and he and her household ate for many days. The bin of flour was not used up, nor did the jar of oil run dry, according to the word of the LORD which He spoke by Elijah.

Our God is a sustaining God. When trouble comes on the earth, He is more than able to take care of those who listen to His voice. This is the time to be obedient to His gentle promptings. In the story, the widow was free to ignore Elijah's request, but her obedience brought them provision for years. The Lord took care of Elijah and the widow, even when the land they lived in was undergoing judgment. The Lord is more than able to sustain you during the hard times.

You can pray this with me if you like:

Prayer: Heavenly Father, please give me wisdom, guidance, and help me understand Your word. I know that my provision comes from You and that You could double it or take it away. Give us today our daily bread. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen!